Bill’s Bulletin is a feature of HCC Connection Online where President William F. Messner shares news about all-college initiatives and the college’s expanding involvement in the region.

We are happy to give our employees a break, from Dec. 24 until Jan. 2, when the college will be closed to curtail winter heating costs. We hope that you are able to use that time to reconnect with family, friends, and traditions that will re-energize you for the spring semester. With the impending opening of the Kittredge Business Center and our upcoming 60th Anniversary celebrations, next semester looks to be a busy one.

The closure of the main campus does not mean you have to stay away from 303 Homestead Avenue; the David M. Bartley Athletic Center will be open during its normal hours from Dec. 26 until Dec. 30.The center will close at 2 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31.

Though we all celebrate the season differently, themes of generosity, gratitude, and community bring us together. I was reminded of this today, when Vice President for Academic Affairs Lisa Wyatt Ganson unveiled the results of the campus-wide Giving Tree campaign. That campaign, you may recall, put out a campus-wide request for wrapped gifts – and questionable poetry.

The poems made us laugh.

The gifts will make others smile.

This morning, a room full of brightly packaged holiday gifts was turned over to WestMass Eldercare and Enlace de Familias, two organizations which work closely with those in need. The gifts were delivered to more than 250 isolated elders and low-income families in our area.

The spirit of the season has also been embraced by two student organizations, the Strive Club and the Entrepreneurs Club, which teamed up to collect gifts for children living at Our Place, a homeless shelter here in Holyoke. The students will deliver the presents and conduct a holiday party for the kids on Dec. 17. I commend these students for taking time out of their end-of-semester schedules to think of others.

Students Remember Rick Vitello with Fund Raising Effort

When Jane Gilman told her students that they would have to complete a community project as a part of their Group Dynamics course, the students immediately shied away from the usual.
“ Instead of the usual bake sale or talent show the group decided that the project should be meaningful. We went through 17 different ideas before we elected to give a memorial to the college in Rick Vitello’s name,” said Angel Silva, a student.

Rick Vitello was an academic counselor at Holyoke Community College for more than 20 years. He passed away last August, but his presence is undiminished.

“ Rick loved golf, gardening and his students," said Mindy Kelly, another Group Dynamic class student. “He was a caring and out-going individual.”

The students decided to create a fund in Vitello’s memory, eventually to be used for a memorial garden. The HCC Foundation will hold those funds until the college is ready to move forward with a garden.

" We want to keep Rick’s spirit alive here at HCC,” Kelly added.

Gilman’s course teaches students the skills needed to work well in a group. It is a part of the human services curriculum and is designed to facilitate more productive communication in the work environment. To receive a passing grade, students must work on a group project to benefit the college. Donating funds to the college in Vitello’s name seemed a fitting way to help the community while remembering their friend.

Members of the Group Dynamics class have already approached individuals and businesses for donations. From Dec.12 to 14, it will be asking the HCC community to help out by participating in a benefit raffle. Tickets are $1 each or 5 for $3. Items to be won include hand-blown marbles and paperweights from Fire on the Mountain Glassworks, and gift certificates for the Northampton Brewery, Faces, East Heaven Hot Tubs, Holyoke Tattoos and A2Z Science and Learning Store. Tickets are available at the Welcome Center and the G Building in the cafeteria. The winners will be drawn at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 15, but you need not be on hand to win. All winners will be informed by phone.

Cash donations for the Rick Vitello Fund will be accepted in the Enrollment Services and Student Affairs Office, Frost 264 and at the Welcome Center, Frost 221.

Woronoco Gives $50,000 to HCC's Gift of Opportunity Campaign
Woronoco Savings Charitable Foundation has approved a $50,000 grant for HCC’s The Gift of Opportunity campaign to support the college’s Instructional Technology Fund for the soon to be completed Kittredge Business Center.

The grant allows HCC to support the capital needs of the Kittredge Business Center, which will house workforce development and training programs, HCC’s Business Division, the Cooperative Education and Career Services programs, the Mass. Export Center, and WISER, the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research. The center, named after HCC alumnus and Yankee Candle founder Michael Kittredge, is slated to open spring 2006.

“ The Woronoco Foundation is excited to be a part of Holyoke Community College’s campaign,” said Debra L. Murphy, treasurer of the Woronoco Foundation.“New technologically-enhanced classrooms and seminar rooms will provide students with a wonderful opportunity to gain essential skills necessary in today’s workforce. The foundation recognizes the importance of a high-quality education and is pleased to support this project.”
The college’s Gift of Opportunity campaign seeks to raise $4 million over the next five years and is the largest such endeavor in its history. “We have been overwhelmed with the response we have received in support of this campaign,” said Dr. Ned Barowsky, chair of the college’s Gift of Opportunity campaign. “Woronoco Foundation’s gift helped bring us to over $3.7 million and we are very optimistic that we will achieve not only the financial goals of this campaign but the educational outreach objectives as well.”

For more information about The Gift of Opportunity campaign or to pledge your support, please contact Joe April at (413) 552-2746; email: japril@hcc.mass.edu

Basketball Tournament Builds Community Leaders

“ Old School/New School” was the theme for the third annual Nuestas Raices basketball tournament, which was held at Holyoke Community College’s Bartley Athletic Center, Dec. 10 and 11.

Co-sponsored by Nuestras Raices and HCC, the two-day tournament brought together six community-based basketball teams, with 60 players ages 15 to 41. The college waived all fees normally charged for use of its athletic facilities. Teams represented various housing projects – including Lyman Terrace, Jarvis Heights, and Bowdoin Village – as well as the Church of God on Appleton Street and Nuestras Raices, a grassroots organizing group.

The teams were generally referred to by the colors of the T-shirts they wore. In the end, it came down to the “White Team,” representing the Churchill Area and the “Black Team” representing Bowdoin Village. Just seconds before the buzzer sounded, the White Team prevailed, 41 to 40.

“ We are doing this to help develop leadership and to show support for people in our community,” said Nuestras Raices organizer Luis Colon. “We have had kids from gangs come to this, but they are so busy playing basketball that we don’t have problems with them.”

Staff and Faculty Fete Paul E. Raverta
Former Interim President Paul E. Raverta received something of a rock star’s welcome when the college officially bid him adieu on Nov. 29.

For the first half hour of Raverta’s farewell party, a steady stream of well-wishers pinned the former biology professor to the entranceway of the Picknelly Dining Hall, where he greeted each visitor with a smile or a story. Flanked by his wife Sharon and daughter Kristin, Raverta didn’t seem to notice the time passing.

“ I was overwhelmed by the number of people who came and by what they had to say,” said Raverta, who ended a 31-year career at HCC in September when he became the Interim President of Berkshire Community College. “HCC wasn’t just a job or a career for me. I was my life. I grew up at the institution and the people at HCC will always be important to me.”

When he left HCC, Raverta was politely feted by the college community.

The Nov. 29 event was decidedly less formal.

“ We’re here to bust his chops,” President Bill Messner told a crowd of more than 100 former colleagues.

A West Springfield resident, Raverta began his HCC career as a biology instructor in 1974. He went on to assume positions as the school’s registrar, assistant director of the Division of Continuing Education, vice president for Student Development, and acting executive vice president. He served as the interim president after the retirement of David Bartley, and most recently, served as the college’s vice president for Business and Community Affairs, heading up the prestigious Kittredge Center.

“ He truly earned the right to say ‘been there, done that,’” said Wayne Emerson, the college’s retired director of business and industry. “But, in Paul’s case, I’d like to add: ‘he’s been there, done that and he did it well.’”

Raverta’s former Executive Assistant Judith Turcotte donned a wig and led the crowd in a chorus of the Annette Funicello hit “Tall Paul.” After listening to Turcotte’s improvised lyrics, Raverta politely informed his old friend that he’d been a fan of the former Mouseketeer when he was eight years old and “you are no Annette Funicello.”

Turcotte, and the rest of Raverta’s fans, were undeterred.
“ Paul managed to know every item of clothing in his colleagues’ wardrobes,” said Tony Pellegrino, the retired vice president for the Division of Continuing Education. “He made a fashion statement in the gym, as the only person to have matching pants and tops…I don’t know how we ever dressed without you.”

Michael Giampietro remembered he was a struggling graduate student when he first met Raverta. Clothes were not a high priority for the college’s future Vice President for Administration and Finance. Not so with Raverta.

“ He held up my tie and said ‘polyester?’” said Giampietro.

Campus Briefs

HCC Employees Honored for Time and Dedication

Congratulations go out to 19 members of the HCC community who were recognized Dec. 5 at a gala ceremony in the Picknelly Dining Room. President Bill Messner personally congratulated 17 employees for the longevity of their service, which added up to a combined 470 years! He also introduced to the community the two Outstanding Staff Members of the year, Vivian Ostrowski and Maryellen White.

For 35 years of service the college honored Judith Campbell, dean of library services, Rodney Dube, professor of psychology/counseling, Richard Golas, director of athletics and student life, Jo Ann Howlett, secretary for the business department and Marsha Ryan, staff assistant for enrollment management and student affairs. Celebrated for 30 years of service was Theresa Howard, dean of cooperative education and career services. Recognized for 25 years of service were Gary Beluzo, professor of environmental science, Richard Defoe, professor of office administration/business, Steven Duffany, bookstore accountant, Cheryl Freitag, staff assistant for the office of administration and finance, and Frances Morse, secretary for the division of social sciences. Receiving recognition for 20 years of service were Karen Derouin, director of financial aid, Gail Indyk, director of student retention, Greg Martinez, offset print operator, and Linda Szalankiewicz, senior systems manager. Receiving recognition for 15 years of service were Maureen Conroy, director of college disability services, Leona Florek, nursing professor, Gail Hilyard, coordinator of the math center and Jill Toler, professor of English. Retirees Susan Grant and Annette Szczygiel were honored for 38 and 17 years of service respectively.

As the Call Center Coordinator for the Division of Information Technology, White is the person everyone turns to when there are problems with office, classroom or home computers. White was lauded for calmly and efficiently fielding the calls which flood her phone on a daily basis. After President Messner announced White as the recipient of the award for Outstanding Classified Employee of the Year, White’s three-year-old granddaughter, Erin Burgalla, delivered a bouquet of roses. White accepted the roses and the praise with characteristic understatement.

“ I was surprised to receive this honor,” she said.“The entire department works hard ensure the college’s ITD is successfully maintained and running.”

Coordinator of Student Activities Vivian Ostrowski, was lauded by her colleagues for giving her heart and soul to the job she has held for five years. Often one to surprise her colleagues, Ostrowski was herself surprised when her parents, Ellen and Edward Ostrowski, flew in from Ohio for the ceremony. Also on hand was Ostrowski’s partner Anne Moore and niece and nephew Kelly and Steven Ostrowski. Many people who nominated Ostrowski for the Non-classified Professional Employee Award praised her focus on inclusiveness and diversity. One of those comments, shared via a projection screen at the Dec. 5 event, seemed to sum up the sentiments that echo throughout the HCC campus: “ Ostrowski provides a safe place for students and staff to share their views, passions, dreams and ideals.”

National Junior College Athletic Association Honors Jamie Walsh

HCC sophomore Jamie Walsh has been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NCJAA) All-American soccer team. Walsh, 20, played center backfield for the HCC Cougars, which recently ended its season with a failed bid for the New England championship.

Walsh is only the second All-American soccer player from HCC. Last year, Meaghan Murphy of Quincy was also named first team, All-American, for soccer.

“ Jamie finished the season with 15 games, two goals, five assists and 15 points,” said Thomas Stewart, manager for athletics and recreation. “That’s a lot considering she’s in a defensive position, in front of our goal most of the time.”
A Springfield resident, Walsh is majoring in psychology and is on the Dean's list. Stewart says scouts from four-year schools have been giving her a close evaluation. Good luck Jamie!

Give the Gift of Education

This holiday, how about giving your spouse a gift certificate for a blacksmithing course, a firearms safety class, or a numerological analysis? Maybe your parents would like to take a memoir-writing course. And what about actually learning to play that guitar in your closet?

HCC is offering gift certificates that could solve your holiday shopping dilemma.

There are non-credit courses in art, business, finances, food and drink, health and fitness, history, home and garden, languages, legal, leisure, personal growth, test preparation, and more. Classes meet between one and 10 times, on weekdays, weeknights, and Saturdays; many cost less well less than $100.

HCC gift certificates can be purchased for credit and non-credit classes. Call the student accounts office at (413) 552-2101. For a full list of non-credit courses, see page 47 of the spring course bulleting or visit www.hcc.edu and click on “Spring 2006 Bulletin” button or call (413) 552-2000 or 2324. To enroll, via a convenient 24-hour telephone service, call (413)-538-5815 or 5817.

Wine Tasting Event Showcases HCC Culinary Talents

Thank God it’s Chilean (TGIC) was the theme of a special wine-and-hors d’oevres tasting event held in the college’s Picknelly Dining Hall on Dec.1.

Sponsored in part by the Culinary Arts Certificate program, the three-hour program gave attendees a chance to sample 24 different wines, all of them from the Southern Hemisphere, courtesy of Classic Wine Imports of Boston. It also showcased the culinary finesse of 18 chefs-in-training – all students enrolled in the college’s Special Events Skills class.

“ It gives the students a chance to interact directly with local restaurateurs, general managers, banquet managers, future employers,” said Mark Antsel, assistant professor for the HCC Hospitality Management program. “Therefore, I tell them to consider every interaction as a possible job interview.”

The students left nothing to chance. Decked out in crisp white chef’s garb, they stood behind the tables full of exotic goodies – beef empanadas, chorizo corn dogs and Australian lamb-chop pastry purses – ready to answer questions and fill empty plates.

For Steve Freedman, owner of Amherst Wine and Spirits, the event was a time-saver.

“ I cover a lot of ground in very little time at events like this,” said Freedman. “I taste everything that goes into my store, so, for me, it’s very important to get a sample. And it helps to have food because wine is mostly served with food, and people are always asking me what to serve.”

HCC Knows There's More Than One Way to Celebrate the Winter Holidays

The office of Student Activities introduced the community to a broad range of winter traditions on Nov. 30, when it presented a Multicultural December Holiday program, 11 a.m. to noon.

Students spoke about the various traditions that are marked this time of year, including Hanukkah, Christmas, Ramadan, Three Kings Day, Kwanza, and the practices of the Bahai’i faith.

The celebration continued on Dec. 4, when the Holyoke Civic Symphony and the Young Singers of Greater Westfield presented the Holiday Magic Concert in the HCC Forum. This free, kid-friendly event attracted a standing-room-only crowd, which delighted in the Harry Potter Symphonic Suite, the Overture to the Sorcerer, and The Magic Oboe.

Notices

Sign Up Now to Hear from EMG on December 15

There’s still time to sign up for one of EMG’s (Educational Marketing Group, Inc.) December 15 sessions where they will present our draft vision/positioning statement.

Please RSVP your choice via email to: Anne Sroka: askroka@hcc.mass.edu
There will be three sessions on Dec. 15: • Session #1: 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., G221

• Session #2: 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Frost 309
• Session #3: 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Frost 309

The vision/positioning statement is a compelling declaration of who we are, what we stand for, and our vision. Rather than just listing all the things we do, it seeks to distill the most important outcomes we provide for our primary audiences.

EMG will outline what was learned in their work with us to date, present the draft statement, gather feedback, and discuss how messaging can be built to articulate our vision and identity, individually as well as collectively.

Special Application Deadlines

Application deadlines are approaching for programs with special admissions processes (for fall 2006 entrance). They are:

February 15 for:

• Radiologic Technology (current students can pick up application at program director’s office in Marieb 219; others contact the Welcome Center)
• Practical Nurse
• Registered Nurse

February 28 for:

• Veterinary Technician

For more information and applications, please contact the Welcome Center, (413) 552-2000.

Upcoming Campus Events:

HCC Music Event Series:
All concerts and events are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. For information, call (413) 552-2485.

HCC Music Department and Music Club to Perform December 14.

On Dec. 14, the entire community is invited to enjoy musical performances by HCC’s Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Vocal Ensemble, and College Chorale during a free concert and reception, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Forum.

Come hear the Chamber Vocal Ensemble’s interpretation of Giuseppe Pitoni’s “Cantate Domino” and revel in the College Chorale’s rendition of Mozart’s Mass in C minor.

HCC's Taber Gallery
Contact Amy Johnquest (413) 552-2614; ajohnquest@hcc.mass.edu for more information.

Dec. 15-17 Art Exhibition and Show

Stuck on what to give this holiday season? Make it art.
On Dec. 15, 16, and 17, the HCC Taber Art Gallery will host crafts and art sale, featuring the works of various local artists. The gallery will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 15, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 16, and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Dec. 17.

This exhibition and sale will feature photography, paintings, prints and other unique pieces ranging in price from $1 to $100. Half the proceeds from each sale will go toward the Taber Art Gallery.

Student Activities and Events:
Contact Vivian Ostrowski (413) 552-2418; vostrowski@hcc.mass.edu for more information.

Dec. 12-15 AIDS Memorial Quilt is on display
The college community is invited to celebrate the lives of those touched by the AIDS pandemic on Dec. 12 to 15, 8:30 to 5 p.m. when a section of the AIDS Memorial Quilt goes on display in the “G” building

The quilt will be on display in the old art gallery during all of the posted hours. You may also want to attend a special ceremony on Dec. 14, 11 a.m. to noon, when students, staff, and faculty will read the names of those individuals who are represented on the section that is on display at HCC. There will also be a display of luminaria that were designed by members of the HCC community in tribute to those who have been touched by AIDS.

Established in 1987, the AIDS Memorial Quilt contains approximately 46,000 panels, each forged by or for someone who died from AIDS in the United States. The entire quilt is now estimated to contain 51.5 miles of fabric and would weigh approximately 54 tons if assembled in one place. Because of its size, the Quilt has not been displayed in its entirety for several years; instead, sections are displayed through a traveling exhibition.

This exhibition of the AIDS Memorial Quilt was sponsored jointly by the HCC Student Activities office, the Community Service Learning Program, and the student senate.

Jan. 12 Martin Luther King Celebration
Holyoke Community College will not be in session on Martin Luther King Day proper, but it will be participating in a larger event, organized by the American Friends Service Committee in Northampton.

The American Friends Service Committee will facilitate several conversation circles focused on the King legacy throughout the region. These are small groups of friends, faith congregations, or people of shared interests, which will meet to discuss the theme: how do our spiritual/ethical commitments require that we take sustained, brave action toward justice?

On Thursday, Jan. 12, at 12:30 p.m., the HCC Student Activities Office will sponsor an MLK Conversation Circle, where students, staff, faculty, and members of the larger community are welcome to come and discuss the meaning of Dr. King's message and his life. This is open to anyone who would like to come. The conversation circle will convene in the Frost Building, Room 309.

HCC Connection is published every other Tuesday (or thereabouts) and is distributed to the campus community, and friends of the college, and local media.

To be added to our email distribution list, please email: Kimberly Wilson, kwilson@hcc.mass.edu
To submit campus event information for inclusion in HCC Connection, email Natalia Munoz, nmunoz@hcc.mass.eduwith details including date, time, location, cost if any, open to public or not, web links (if appropriate) and contact information (name, phone number, and email). Deadline: end of day Friday before publication.

Natalia Munoz
Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Holyoke Community College
Phone: (413) 552-2183 Fax: (413) 552-2479
cell: (413) 348-8515 (emergency)
nmunoz@hcc.mass.edunmunoz@hcc.mass.edu
Holyoke Community College is the Commonwealth’s oldest community college, serving almost 9,000 students annually in 82 associate degree options and 42 certificate programs, and over 4,000 in noncredit and workforce development courses. The college has the highest transfer rate of any community college statewide, holding articulation agreements with 27 colleges and universities. Recognized for its Honors Program, distance learning curriculum, learning communities, and service to students, HCC anticipates opening its state of-the-art Kittredge Business Center in Spring 2006.